Football journalist Greg O’Keeffe has urged Frank Lampard to hire the ‘best’ sports psychologist available to help the Everton players.
A heavy 4-0 away loss in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace over the weekend now means the Toffees have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions – and one of those was against non-League Boreham Wood.
As a consequence of this poor form, Frank Lampard’s men find themselves very much in the midst of a relegation battle down at the bottom of the Premier League.
Hoping to arrest this negative development, O’Keeffe said he hopes the club are ‘scouring the land’ to find a psychologist that can offer some much-needed help to the out of sorts squad.
Speaking on the All Together Now podcast, he said (14:50): “I would hope that the club are scouring the land for the best [psychologist] – whether it’s Steve Peters – that they are scouring the land for the best sports psychologist out there at the moment.
“Get him in and get him in soon – or her. Get them in soon and let them get into the dressing room and find out you know what making these players tick. What’s going on here?
“Lampard isn’t a psychologist. But, unfortunately, I agree with you, I think they need one. I think it’s gone that far.”
TIF thoughts on Everton…
It is interesting to hear O’Keeffe reference Dr Steve Peters. He is a sports psychiatrist who has helped Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish win Olympic gold, as well as playing a key role in Steven Gerrard’s return from a serious injury towards the end of his career.
Will Everton get relegated this season?
Yes
No
Taking into account their recent woes, it certainly sounds as if the Everton players could use every extra ounce of support and help available to them right now.
As things stand, only three points separate the Toffees from Watford who sit highest in the relegation zone, while Leeds United are one place but four points ahead of Lampard’s men.
As we enter the final stages of the season, it really looks as though things could go either way – perhaps a sports psychiatrist could be the difference between Premier League and Championship football next term.
In other news: Everton 25 y/o drops potential cryptic post amid Lampard snub